Mark takes on Marcos, no less

MARK Bautista interviewed former First Lady Imelda Marcos to prepare for his part as her late husband Ferdinand. Facebook

In rehearsals early this month for David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s “Here Lies Love,” GMA 7 singer-actor Mark Bautista, who plays the late President Ferdinand Marcos in the West End musical, was blind-sided by a family crisis.

Bautista’s mother Susan got embroiled in an estafa case in their home province of Cagayan de Oro. Bautista, who is miles away in London, is despondent that he can’t be with his mom during this difficult time.

In an e-mail interview, he told the Inquirer he would rather remain upbeat: “Everything happens for a reason. It’s hard to go through something like this [but] I have plenty of reasons to be happy. I choose to be thankful… God will not give me things I cannot handle.”

Bautista doesn’t have time to dwell on problems, in any case, busy as he is with “intense but fun” rehearsals, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. “Sunday is our only day off.”

He described the entire team as helpful and supportive. “We are well taken care of. If you complain of body aches, you are immediately sent to the doctor or therapist.”

Fellow Filipino costars Natalie Mendoza (who plays Imelda Marcos) and Gia Macuja-Atchison (Estrella) are heaven-sent, he said. “They are lovely, super talented. Natalie is perfect as Imelda. Gia, who has lived in London for 16 years, is easy to work with.”

Composer Byrne (of the rock band Talking Heads) is “pretty hands-on,” Bautista related. “He’s present in all rehearsals. He is nice, but very particular about our performances.”

Director Alex Timbers is “smart and cool,” said Bautista. “He’s young and talented. He’s teaching me a lot about character development.”

He related, “Once, I arrived late because I missed my train. As punishment, the team asked me to bring cake the next day.”

He has adjusted to life in London. “I like it here. The weather’s beautiful. It’s totally different from my life in Manila. I get to walk around and take public transport,” he said.

He likes walking around the city. “I get to see the sights—like the London Eye.

He stays in a flat with two other cast members. “I do my laundry, the groceries, all household chores. I’m very relaxed and calm here.”

The dressing room

The day he got the key to his dressing room in the theater is unforgettable.

“The room is like a small hotel room, with a refrigerator, bed, side table, shower,” he said. “From the window, you can see the dressing rooms of actors performing in other plays.”

He explained that it is a tradition at the National Theatre, for actors “to tap their windows and make noise, to wish their colleagues good luck on opening night.”

(Previews of “Here Lies Love” start at the Dorfman Theater of the National Theatre on Sept. 30; the musical opens Oct. 13.)

His West End stint made him grow up in a jiffy, Bautista said. “I’ve become more focused… I’ve learned to take care of my voice, body, mind.”

On his toes

During rehearsals, he is constantly on his toes. “I have to be alert, attentive. Every day, I interact with people who speak with different accents.”

DAVID Byrne (left) is hands-on and very particular about the performances, says Mark Bautista. Facebook

Even before he left for London, he got to practice his listening skills when, as part of his research, he had an audience with former First Lady Imelda Marcos. “I totally forgot my prepared questions,” he recounted. “It was surreal. I asked about her late husband; she gave me a glimpse of Marcos as a person.”

Before parting, she autographed her book “Circles of Life” for him and said, “Show the world how in love Marcos was with Imelda.”

Between rehearsals, he has been watching various West End plays, including “Miss Saigon,” where another Kapuso and Viva talent, Rachelle Ann Go, is making waves as Gigi.

“We were groupmates in the GMA 7 show ‘Sunday All Stars,’” Bautista said. “Once I asked Shin (Go’s nickname), ‘[Wouldn’t it be great] if we held a concert at the Araneta Coliseum? It was one of those seemingly impossible dreams. I never thought we’d both end up in the West End.”

He admitted that he feels “pressured” being part of a West End play that tells the story of the Philippines.

“But it’s an honor, and I feel proud to represent our country. It’s a non-Filipino production, but it’s about our history. Most of the audience members will be from United Kingdom, so that adds to the tension. Nevertheless, it’s exciting, and I just want to give my all. I will treat each show as if it’s my last time onstage.”

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